Damming device



May 26, 1942- w. H. s|| v|'- 'R t 2,284,172 DAMMING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1940 2` sheets-sheet 1 2| 2' F|G.I

WALTER vH. SILVER A ORNEYS.

May 26',` 1942 W. H. slLvEYR DAMMING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented May 26, 1942 v j DaMMiNG DEVICE Walter H. Silver, Moline, Ill., assignor to Deere &

Company, Moline, Ill.,

nois

a corporation of Illi- Applcation February 9,1940, Serial No. 318,069

7 Claims.

The presentinvention relates generally to agricultural implements and is more particularly concerned with machines for forming -moistureretaining dams for the purpose of conserving available moisture and reducing erosion by sur face water and wind.

The object and general nature of the present invention is the provision of an agriculturalv machine of this character in which both the planting and darn forming operations are performed simultaneously, and further it is a feature of this invention to provide a machine for performing this dual function, so constructed and arranged that the dam forming units are normally positioned relative to the planting units that the moisture-retaining dams are formed without in any way disturbing the deposited seed or interfering with the planting means. More particularly, it is a feature of this invention to arrange the dam forming means so that not only do they serve to form the desired dams but, in addition, they also serve as-covering means for the planting units directing soil into the furrows opened by the planter runners.

Another important feature ofthis invention is the provisionof a planting unit having means for depositing two parallel rows of seed, and especially is it a feature of this invention to provide a damming unit which not only forms wellpacked dams at frequent intervals that will hold heavy rains, but Ythedamming means is arranged in such relation tothe two rows of seed that the blade or blades of thedamming unit operate generally between and above the two rows of seed.

It is an additional feature of the present invention to provide av damming unit which is especially adapted for attachment to a lister that is equipped with planting mechanism, and especially is it a feature of this invention to provide a damming attachment particularly adapted to be connected with or mounted on a lister in which the associated planting unit has means for depositing two generally parallel laterally spaced rows of seed.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent rto those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed-descriptionof theI preferred structure which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. f

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top or plan view of an agricultural machinein which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated and in and 2, the frame of the machine is indicated in its entirety'by the reference numeral I and comprises a pluralityvof lister beams 2, 3, 4 and 5,

a front transverse bar 6 to which-,the front ends of thebeams are connected by angle members 8, and a pairv of generally longitudinally extending draft bars S which at their rear ends are fixed in any suitable manner to the inner faces ofthe two inside beams 3 and 4 and at their forward ends are fixed, as by bolts II, to a hitch plate I2.` The latter is provided with a plurality of holes I3 to receive a draft clevis I4 in any one of a 'plurality of vertically adjusted positions. Ordinarily, the front end of the machine is supported bythe' clevis I4 on a tractor orv other propelling Vehicle, the lister planter and dam forming means forming the propelled vehicle. As' shown inv Figure 2, the front end of each of theflister beams 2, 3, 4 and 5 extends downwardly and forwardly, as indicated at 5a, and a pair of generally vertical angle members I6 have horizontal legs which are bolted, as at Il, to the horizontal flange of the transverse angle member 6, the vertical legs of the members I6 being bolted, as at I8, to the intermediate portion of the longitudinal frame bars 9. Diagonalbraces 2I are connected at their rear ends to the transverse frame bar 6 and at their forward ends are connected by the bolts II to the vertical hitch plate I2.

4The rear end of each of Ythe lister beams is curved downwardly, as at 5b in Figures 2 and 3, and to Aeach beam above the curved portion 5b thereof a pair of plates 23 and 24 are bolted or otherwise fixed thereto. The rear end of each of 'the plates 23 and 24 is bent laterally, as at 25, (Figure 1) and isV bolted or otherwise secured to a rear transverse draft or frame bar 21, preferably in the form of an angle member. Thus, the bar 2l ties together the rear portions of the lister beams 2, 3, 4 andA 5. A listerbottom 28 is iixed in any suitable manner to the lower end of each curved beam section 5b. A plurality o-planting units, one for each beam and each indicated by the reference numeral 30, are fixed to the rear portion of the frame To this end the transverse frame bar 21 has a plurality of plates 3| fixed to the vvertical flange of the bar 21. AEach planting unit 30 consists of a seed container 33 fixed at its lower portion to a supporting frame or base 34, each base 34 having Ta lug (not shown) which is adapted to be bolted tothe upper portion of the associated supporting plate 3|. As best Vshown in Figure 1, each supporting frame or base 34 is provided with two laterally spaced seed receiving openings 36 and 31, and disposed'in each base or support 34, and each casting, which is inl dicatedY bythe reference numeral 4 I ,1 has-'means toreceive theupper end ofa seed-'tube 42.Y As p best shown in Figure 3, the two seed yfeeds are fixed to the base support 3 4- in laterally spaced relation; whereby the two associated-seed tubes 42 extend vdownwardly Atherefrom valso in'A laterally spaced apart relation.l vA gate 43 (Figure 1) may-bedisposedat one side or the other of the associated seed openingV 39 Vfor adjusting the planting mechanism to thetype orjsize of seed toA be deposited. A pair of L-shaped brackets 45`are fixed to the opposite sides of each listerbeam sectionblgenerally rearwardly of the associated 1ister"bottomf28,'the members, 45 being arranged so that Vthe horizontal portion 46 thereof extends.

generallyrearwardly. This' portion of each bracket 'carries' a U-bolt 41 which serves to clamp thel shank-48of a planter furrow opener 49 tofthe associated supporting bracket 45.V The seed-tubes 42 of each pair are received by the up-V per portion of the two associated runner Shanks 48. The two brackets 45 associated with each v listertbeamarev bolted thereto by any suitable meansfsuoh as. bolts 50 best shown in Figure 2. The rear portion of the implement frame isV supported on and the .various planting umts areV driven by ground wheel'means'which'will now-'beV described.

, Apair of ground wheels 5| and 52 are mounted for rotation, respectively, 'on axles 53 `and 54 which," takentogether, constitute a `crank axle i structure indicated in itsentirety by the reference numeral and which includes a generally horizontal kportion 56 which is supportedfor rocking movement by a pair of brackets 51 fixed to the inner lister beams 3 and .4. Preferably, although not necessarilyQthe'two axle sections 53 and 54iare formed integrally. with the horizcrital' portion56; A chain housing 6|.is fixed y by brackets 62 to the crankv axle section 63, and the'grund wheel'52 carries a'sprocket 64 around which.` a chain 65 is trainedj... The upper end of the'chain 65 istrained overa sprocket 66 which is mounted "for .rotation'onY a cross shaft 61. lA clutch 68 bperatively connects the sprocket 66 to the shaft 61, and a gear (not shown) on the outer 'end of thelattermeshes nwith another gear 1| whichis 'fixed to thelinner end of a shaft 12 journaled in a suitable bearing 13 carried by a braoket`14that isfixedto the vinner face of the right hand outer lister beam 5. Theouter end sleeves or the like.

of the shaft 12 carries a sprocket 15 and is supportedl for rotation in a bearing 16 fixed to a longitudinally disposed plate 11 which is carried at'the right hand end of thetransverse angle bar 21, as by a clipV 18. A chain 19 is trained around the sprocket15 and also around another sprocket 8| which is fixed to the outer end of a seeding shaft 82 which is journaled in a bearing 83 (Figure 1) fixed to the rearendof the supporting plate 11. A chain tightener 84 is fixed to the plate 11. 'I'he seeding shaft 82 extends through v the Vseveral units 30 :to theleft side of the machine, and may be a single shaft or a plurality of shaft sections suitably connected together by It will be understood that the feed wheels mentioned above are fixed to rotate with the shaft or shaft sections 82.

Theimplement frame is raised to transport position by Yswinging the crank axle structure 55 about the axis of the horizontal portion 56 thereof, and to this end the left hand ground wheel 5| 'isfprovidedwitha half-revolution clutch unit 9 0 Y of i conventional construction, embodying driving-,and driven membersthe driving-member being -fixed to rotate with the groundl wheell 5|and the driven member optionaily'elutched thereto under the Acontrol of a trip Vlever-9|. The driven member includes a crank' (not shown) which is connected by a link.94 withan adjusting glever 95. The latter carries suitable latch mechanism 96 whichcooperateswith asector `91 that is fixed tothe inner face of theinner left-hand'lister beamk 3; Whenever the vlever ,9| is tripped, `the driving and driven parts ofthe half-revolution clutch'90 are engaged and theforward rolling of the ground wheel 5|V reacts through the above-` the longitudinal bars 9 of the frame I.' The force v of thesprings |02 aids in raising the implement into its transport position.

The' clutch 68, which connects and disconnects the seeding drive shaft 82, is controlledY by a transversely shiftable rod` |08 carried in a supporting member |09 that, in turn, is carried by the bracket 51 and the bracket in which the inner end of the shaft 61 is journaled. -A spring- ||0 serves normally to engage the clutch, and anf arm I2 fixed to the horizontalportiontof the crank axle section 56 carries a'cam member ||3 which,l when the crank axle 55 is swung downwardly to raise the implement, engages the inner end of the rod member |08 .and disengages the y clutch, thereby disconnecting .the drive from the right-handg'round wheel 52 to the various seeding units. g V

As best shown in rFigure l, a damming unit |20 is connected with the vframe substantially di.- rectly behind each *of the seeding units 30. The several units |20 are substantially.V identical, and hence a description of onewill suffice.

A hitch bracket |2| is fixed to the associated lister beam in generally upwardly and rearwardly extending-relation andr consists of a pair of bars |22`and |23 diverging forwardly and apertured, the forward ends being disposedy on opposite sidesfofthe, L-shaped brackets'h4'5 -and secured in placeby the bolt 50 whichfixes the two brackets'45 in'position. Intermediate their ends#the two bars |22 and |23 are aperturedv to receive a pivot bolt |25 vwhich supp'ortsal'vhitch swivel |26 in the form of a casting having a vertical sleeve portion'| 2'| and an upstanding' lug |28. The pivot bolt |25 also receives the rear endsof a pair of braces |29 which are bolted at the forward ends to the upper bolt v50. The hitch bracket j ust described is therefore rigidly secured to and forms a rearwardly extending part of the associatediister beam. Itwill be noted, particularly from Figure 3, that the two bars |22 and |23 extend rearwardly between th'e twoassociated seed tubes 42.

The sleeve section |21l of the hitch pivot receives the upturned `end |3| of a frame bar' |32 that extends generally rearwardly. At its rear,v

|25 and is also capable of lateral swinging movement about the axis of the upturned frame bar end |3|. A spring |42 is adjustably anchored at its forward end to the upper end of the lug |28 and at its rear end is connected to the upper end of the hitch bracket |2|. A chain |44 is anchored at its upper end to the upper end of the hitch'bracket |2| and at its lower end the chain is connected to a plate |45 that is welded or otherwise fixed to the central part of the frame bar |32. As will be seen from Figure 2, the spring |42 biases the damming unit |20 for movement in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot |25, but movement in this direction is limited by the chain |44. Preferably, the connection of the latter at its upper end with the upper end of the hitch'bracket |2| includes a hook |46 whereby any one of several links of the chain 44 may be engaged so as to hold the damming unit |20 in various vertical positions. The chain |44 also serves to return the damming unit |20 to its rearwardly extending position -since lateral horizontal swinging movement of the unit vhas the effect of causing the chain |44 to raise the unit slightly.

Each of the rotatable damming unit assemblies is held against rotation bya trip arm |50 which is pivctally mounted, as at |5|, to the upper end of a strut |52 which is welded to the frame bar |32 adjacent the chain receiving plate |45. The outer or rear end of the trip arm |50 carries a pair of rollers |55 against which the ends of the upper blades bear, as shown in Figure 2. The angle that the arm |50 makes with respect to the plane of the two upper blades is substantially a right angle, whereby as long as thearm |50 is held in the position shown in Figure 2, the damming blades are held against rotation.

A gauge float |58 comprising an earth engaging member |50 and a bar |60, is pivoted, as at ISI, to a part that is fixed to the frame bar |32.

I:Che rear end of the earth engaging member |59 carries a U-shaped part |63 which embraces the frame bar |32 and at its upper end is adjustably connected, as by a screw-threaded link |64, to

an arm 4 |65 which is` xed tothe trip arm |50. Whenfthe v'darn which is formed by earth accumulating in front ofthe lower blades |40, reaches a height such that -the gauge fioat |50 is forced upwardly, this movement disengages therollers v| 55 from the upper blades |40, whereuponthe rotatable damming blade assemblies |35 and |35 will rotate, swinging the upper'blades |40 down into engagement with the ground and passing over the dam just formed. Changing the adjustment between the link |64 and the cooperating part |63 has the effect of raising and lowering the'earth engaging section |59, and thus determining 'the size o f kdam whichrmustbe formed beforethe damming unit is tripped.V

Figure 4 illustrates the relation between each planting unit 30 and the associatedY damming unit |520.r Itv will benoted that the two damming blades |40 are carried so that they engage the soil inwardly and above the lower portions of the planter runners 49 through which the seed is deposited in two laterally spaced rows in the ground. Normally, the two planter runners 49 of each unit 30 are spaced from seven to nine inches apart and the lower tips of the damming blades |40 are arranged to work the soil about two inches Vabove the two rows of seed. From Figure 2 it will be noted that the damming blades serve as coverers for the associated two planter runners 49. Not only do the blades |40 thus erect dams but, in addition, they ll in the furrcws opened by the runners 49 and form and pack the soil about the two rows of seed. Adjusting the spring |42 varies the force with which the associated damming unit normallyis held toits work, and raising or lowering the frame barY |32 relative to the hitch bracket |2| determines the number of dams for any given distance of travel. The damming unit is also capable of lateral swinging movement and thereby accommodates deviations from straight line travel.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have b'een incorporated, it is to be understood that my invention is not'to be limited to the particular means shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of my invention.

What VI claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An agricultural machine comprising a planter including a plurality of planting units, each having means for planting two rows, and a plurality of dam forming means, one for each Y of said units, arranged to operate in predetermined relation with respect to the associated rows.

2. An agricultural machine comprising' a planting unit having a pair of laterally spaced seed depositing means for simultaneously -depositingtwo rows of seeds, and dam forming means connected with said unit in a position rearwardly of and adapted to work the soil generally between said spacedV apart seed depositing means. Y

3. An agricultural machine comprising planting mechanism including two transversely spaced furrow opening Vmeans, and damming means connected therewith substantially in a position between the generally vertical longitudinal planes of said spaced furrow opening means.

4. An agricultural machine comprising planting mechanism including aseed containerY and two seed depositing means associated therewith and adapted to deposit VV`seed'lin two laterally spacedrows, anddam` forming means connected therewith in a position to engage `the soil substantially between said rows. Af y ,Y 5. An agricultural-mafhine as defined in claim 4, `further. characterized by said :damf forming means including a pair lof laterally spaced apart earth-engaging blades, and means for supporting said blades in a position to engage the soil both laterally inwardly and above said rows.

6. An agricultural machine comprising means serving as a frame and including a lister beam, a lister bottom fixed thereto, a seed container supported on said frame, a pair of laterally spaced, runners'nxled to said llister beam rearwardly of 'said lister bottom and in laterally spacedapart relation, a pairrof seed tubesex-v tending downwardly from said container to said v wardly between said seed tubes, dam Vforming Vwardly-/ofl said spaced apart runners. e

7; An agricultural machine comprising means serving as a frame, planting mechanism includ'- ing aseed container, ar pair of laterally spaced runnersand a pair of seed tubes extending from said container to said runners to conduct seed thereto, bracket means comprising a pair of bars connected at'the forwardends with said frame and extending generally rearwardly alongside said seed tubes, Sandi a,V damv forming unit including blade means adapted to engage the ground rearwardly of said runners and supporting means for Vsaid blade means connected Withvsaid generally rearwardly extending bars.

WALTER. H. SENER. 

